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Giedo Van der Garde won Race 2 of the GP2 series in Singapore, last round of the season. Davide Valsecchi was already crowned champion on Saturday, and DAMS took the teams' title.

After he started from pole position for having finished 8th on Saturday, the Dutch driver remained in first position from start to finish, to take his second win of the year ahead of Marcus Ericsson and Fabio Leimer.

Tony Fernandes happy with Van der Garde's victory at Singapore. (Photo: GP2 Series)

Behind them, Luiz Razia took 4th position, Davide Valsecchi (5th) - he already secured drivers' title on Saturday -, and teammate Felipe Nasr (7th) gave DAMS the teams' championship.

Race 2:
1 - Giedo Van der Garde - Caterham - 21 laps in 46'36"606

2 - Marcus Ericsson - iSport - 1"719
3 - Fabio Leimer - Racing Engineering - 5"684

4 - Luiz Razia - Arden - 7"393
5 - Davide Valsecchi - Dams - 7"942
6 - Esteban Gutierrez - Lotus - 8"562

7 - Felipe Nasr - Dams - 8"718

8 - Stefano Coletti - Rapax - 15"394

Championship (final):
1. Valsecchi 247 points; 2. Razia 222; 3. Gutierrez 176; 4. Chilton 169; 5. Caladoet Van der Garde 160; 7. Leimer 152; 8. Ericsson 124; 9. Cecotto 104; 10. Nasr 95, etc.

Are you sick and tired of wasting fuel and your precious time at red lights? Make SignalGuru your new friend!

Developed by researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), this innovative app helps drivers avoid red lights and reduce their fuel consumption by up to 20%, says Emmanouil Koukoumidis, one of the scientists behind the system.

How? When approaching an intersection, the camera on a driver's dashboard-mounted smartphone is activated, detecting when a light shifts from red to green and vice versa. Using this information, the app determines the speed that should be driven to avoid stopping at a red light.

Successful tests have already been conducted across Massachusetts, and the system's accuracy and effectiveness could increase as more users share traffic data.

Source: Reuters

From GMM

F1 cars could be fitted with a mandatory engine cover 'shark fin' next year.

The move would be designed to help television viewers and trackside spectators easier identify the drivers, in the era of deep cockpits and ever-changing helmet designs.

Mercedes tested the 'shark fin' solution at the recent Magny Cours test.

On the German squad's test car, the shark fin featured the drivers' race number, his national flag and his three-letter F1 initial.

Photo: Mercedes AMG F1 Team

"The teams have been working for some time on how to improve the identification of the drivers on the track," team boss Ross Brawn told Auto Motor und Sport.

"It seems to be a trend nowadays that drivers are constantly changing their helmet designs, which makes it very difficult to know who's sitting in the cars. At the moment, the requirement for the size of the race number on the car is very small. The solution with the fin at Magny Cours was an experiment. Now we need to discuss with the FIA if there are better alternatives," added Brawn.

He suggested the shark fin is not the ideal solution.

"You have to be balanced," said Brawn. "If you have something that is so dominant, is the audience being distracted from the logos of our partners and sponsors?"

Brawn also revealed that Mercedes will test its so-nicknamed 'triple DRS' concept in free practice in Japan in two weeks.

"We could use it in practice and at the moment I think it's very unlikely that we will see it in the race just yet," he said.

From WRC

Volkswagen's new-for-2013 Polo R WRC went for jumping practice in Finland this week - and lead driver Sebastien Ogier said he was happy with the result.

Ogier and navigator Julien Ingrassia ran for two days on high-speed roads around the town of Jamsa, a popular pre-Neste Oil Rally Finland testing venue, as the German firm continued preparing for its assault on next year's FIA World Rally Championship.

“The test went well, we can be happy with the result,” said Ogier, who covered the planned 400-kilometre distance on two different test roads on Wednesday and Thursday. “The Polo already felt very good at high speed and when jumping although we weren't driving the final version yet.”



Volkswagen Motorsport chief Jost Capito added: “The rally tracks in Finland are famous for their fast pace and long jumps. That's why a modern WRC car, for instance, not only requires optimum traction and as much power output as possible but also safe flying properties and driving stability at high speed. Various components that have been developed based on simulations and wind tunnel tests were successfully tried out in these tests.”

Despite the test in Finland proving a success, Ogier said more work lies ahead. “We've still got a lot of work to do during the time that's left before the debut at Rallye Monte-Carlo - next week we'll already be continuing in Portugal.”

Performing comparison tests are great for discovering the tiniest detail differences between models within a specific category. Driving them back-to-back, on the same day, and in the same conditions provides us with valuable data on which ones are the best. Because, let's be honest, there are no bad new cars or trucks for sale anymore.

Usually, our plan is to round up the new or redesigned models in a category and pit them against our current favourites, such as Auto123.com Award winners or victors of previous comparison tests. A good old Toyota RAV4 and a brand new Ford Escape were among the six competitors we took on our latest comparo drive of compact crossovers. And one thing hit me:

In its current form, the RAV4 has been around since 2005, launched as a 2006 model. The 2013 Ford Escape is all new for the US and Canada and is based on the European Ford Kuga, but tailored for the North American market.

Photo: Michel Deslauriers

The Toyota looks old, mostly because its styling is so familiar with so many on the road today. The Ford looks modern, edgy, sophisticated.

The RAV4 uses a good, old 2.5L four, which develops 179 hp. The Escape we tested boasts a 1.6L turbo-four with direct injection, good for 178 hp and better fuel consumption ratings.

Technologically speaking, the RAV4 can be equipped with Bluetooth, a navigation system and an intelligent key system. That's about it. In the Escape, you can get a MyFord Touch infotainment system, active park assist (i.e., it parks by itself) and a blind-spot monitor -- all stuff the Toyota doesn't offer yet.

On paper, the Ford is better equipped, more fuel efficient, more sophisticated and, well, newer.

Yet, despite its age, the Toyota RAV4 has more interior space. Its outward visibility is better (function over form, right?). It still offers a great ride. It's just as versatile as it was in 2005. It's as fuel efficient as the Ford's 1.6L EcoBoost. OK, I'll stop there; let's not spoil the results of our upcoming comparison test.

Bottom line: Some vehicles age gracefully, some don't. However, in this case, when you compare a 6-year-old design to a new one, they don't seem worlds apart anymore; at least not to the average consumer who is simply looking for an affordable, reliable, cheap-to-run and easy-to-live-with vehicle.

Is the “newness” factor really important to you? Or would you rather get a good deal on a car or truck that's been around for a while?

The Japanese automaker has announced a new series of Fit models for 2013 including the Fit (Jazz), City and a small SUV. All three will have unique characteristics in their respective markets.

Honda has also confirmed that two new assembly plants will produce compact vehicles: one in Yorii, Japan, and another in Mexico, which will become operational in the spring of 2014. The Fit-based SUV will come from the latter.

Look for more details in the next few weeks.

From GMM

Sebastian Vettel clung onto Singapore victory despite a stewards enquiry late on Sunday night.

After the Red Bull driver beat McLaren's Jenson Button to the chequered flag, FIA officials looked into whether he 'brake tested' his British rival whilst behind the safety car.

"It was not intentional," the German insisted.

"You try to warm up your tyres and also try to keep the brakes at the right temperature. So it was possible that he (Button) was looking at his steering wheel and I was braking a bit abruptly and then you almost meet at a spot where you both would not want to be. Thank goodness nothing happened," added Vettel.

Sebastian Vettel wins at Singapore. (Photo: WRi2)

Button also admitted that the new championship standings runner-up did not 'brake test' him.

"I don't think it was a brake test," said Button, "because Sebastian is not a stupid driver, he knows if he brake tests me we are going to crash. I was not trying to get him penalised, I was just looking for clarification of where we are."

And Mark Webber was stripped of his championship point, for leaving the track during his pass on Sauber's Kamui Kobayashi.

From GMM

He didn't even score a point, but Timo Glock's performance in Singapore on Sunday could be worth as much as EUR 10 million.

The experienced German finished twelfth, which betters Caterham's best 2012 finish of 13th place at Monaco.

Marussia therefore leapfrogs its green-coloured rival to take the all-important tenth place in the constructors' world championship with six races still to go.

"We do of course need to hold on until the end of the season and I hope we can," said Timo Glock. "Over the last four months we have really closed the gap to Caterham and this is a very nice reward to everyone in the team because it has not been easy."

Photo: Marussia F1 Team

The 30-year-old told Bild newspaper: "This twelfth place is worth ten million euros at the moment!"

He is referring to the confidential Concorde Agreement, under which the sport's top ten teams share a lucrative prize pool.

Bild said Marussia's total budget for 2012 is only about EUR 40 million.

Timo Glock, meanwhile, said he is staying put for now.

"I have a contract (with Marussia) until 2014," he revealed.

From GMM

Hockenheim is ready to step in at short notice, should the Nurburgring be unable to organise next year's German grand prix.

The Nurburgring has been given only a conditional date on the draft 2013 schedule, due to the circuit's well-documented financial problems.

According to the alternating scheme in place between Germany's two grand prix hosts, Hockenheim - having hosted this year's race in the country - is not officially scheduled to return to the calendar until 2014.

Nurburgring track, aerial view.

But with the Nurburgring grappling with its financial problems, Hockenheim chief Georg Seiler said he is open to thinking about a 2013 event "in the right financial conditions".

"At the moment, we wait," he is quoted by the DAPD news agency. "Should there be a request, we would consider it."

Seiler said he hopes the Nurburgring's race can survive.

"It would be a real shame for them, in their difficult situation, to lose the grand prix," he nobly said.

German driver Michael Schumacher has been penalised for a race accident during the Grand Prix of Singapore held Sunday.

Schumacher, who drives for the Mercedes AMG team has been punished by the Singapore stewards for his collision with Toro Rosso's Jean-Eric Vergne during the race.

Schumacher receives a 10-place grid penalty for the next round in Japan.

Schumacher and Vergne both retired immediately after the Mercedes driver slammed into the back of the Frenchman's STR7 on the race's restart following the first safety-car period.

The Japanese Grand Prix takes place at Suzuka from October 5-7.

Photos: WRi2

Volvo Cars CEO Stefan Jacoby suffered a mild stroke last week and will take sick leave for the next month. Jacoby, 54, was placed under medical supervision and has already started the recovery process, the automaker said.

Volvo Cars CEO Stefan Jacoby suffered a mild stroke last week and will take sick leave for the next month. Jacoby, 54, was placed under medical supervision and has already started the recovery process, the automaker said.

Unionized workers at Ford's Canadian operations have voted in favor of a four-year labor agreement with the company. Some 82 percent of the Ford workers who voted backed the deal, the Canadian Auto Workers said.

News 23 Sep, 2012

Sebastian Vettel wins the Singapore Grand Prix, after Lewis Hamilton is forced to retire from the race

Lithium demand, seen doubling in the next eight years on sales of batteries used in electric vehicles, is spurring a U.S. company to build a factory to extract the metal from brine in California.

Fiat says it has revised the platform that underpins the Fiat Punto and Alfa Romeo MiTo subcompacts so that it can now underpin minivans, compact SUVs and crossovers.

Fiat and the Italian government said they will look for ways to improve the company's manufacturing efficiency, as the automaker pledged to keep building cars in Italy while shifting its focus to foreign export markets.

Volkswagen has dropped its appeal of a court ruling in a brand infringement case against estranged partner Suzuki.

Fiat says it has revised the platform that underpins the Fiat Punto and Alfa Romeo MiTo subcompacts so that it can now underpin minivans, compact SUVs and crossovers.

Max Chilton earned his first ever GP2 victory in race 1 in Singapore. Davide Valsecchi took fourth place, and already secured the 2012 title before the second round.

Chitlon, who started second on the grid, moved  up to the lead at the start, as poleman Luca Filippi had a poor start and dropped down in the middle of the field. The safety car was brought out early by a first lap pile up.

The Brit pulled away in front at the restart, and eventually took his first GP2 victory ahead of Esteban Gutierrez and Fabio Leimer. Davide Valsecchi was fourth ahead of Luiz Razia, which was enough to secure the 2012 title before the second round in Singapore.

Valsecchi therefore takes over as champion from Romain Grosjean, who he replaced at team DAMS.

Luca Filippi had a high speed crash in the last lap, which brought the safety car out again for the end of the race. The Italian driver will not take part to the second race as his car cannot be fixed for Sunday.

Race 1 :
1 - Max Chilton - Carlin - 28 laps in 1h01'48"095
2 - Esteban Gutierrez - Lotus - 1"363
3 - Fabio Leimer - Racing Engineering - 4"894
4 - Davide Valsecchi - Dams - 5"945
5 - Luiz Razia - Arden - 6"295
6 - Felipe Nasr - Dams - 8"798

7 - Marcus Ericsson - iSport - 14"229

8 - Giedo Van der Garde - Caterham - 15"147

9 - Rio Haryanto - Carlin - 48"855

10 - Nathanael Berthon - Racing Engineering - 49"445
Etc.